The Brief:
It should feature a unique Welcome Party, many and diverse possibilities for Local Area Awards events, an outstanding venue for the Gala Awards Dinner & a Fun Party that will bring a fitting end to a magnificent four days. The venues selected needed to create the perfect environment for networking opportunities whilst offering the delegates the chance to get to know the city. The need was to use as few hotels as is possible but of a 5 star standard.

Programme
1^st day arrivals and welcome dinner, 2^nd day country meetings and country award dinners, 3^rd day General Session meetings for the whole group together and Gala and awards dinner, 4^th day all day meetings and party dinner, 5^th day departures

Solution - Lisbon:
Four hotels in Lisbon city centre all within walking distance to each offering over 1000 rooms included the Four Seasons, Dom Pedro Palace, Tiara Park Lisboa and the Sheraton Lisboa.  All excellent properties and completely in line with the requirements stated in the brief.

Great networking opportunity was provided for the welcome evening with a stand-up buffet, at the beautiful restaurant Kais situated by the river Tagus. Entertainment was linked to the idea of bringing the groups together and the meeting was off to a flying start.

The modern and refurbished Lisbon Congress Centre hosted the General Conference sessions and was perfectly positioned, with breakout rooms of various sizes to host themed breakouts. In addition the hotels were able to cope with the country meetings and thereby avoiding using the same venue for the whole period and enabling everyone to meet in the hotel selected for their area.

Lisbon is particularly well served in the way of fantastic venues for award dinners and this brief needed eight different venues of different sizes and styles to accommodate the client’s expectations. Venues used for these special dinners included Foz Palace, the Coach Museum, Colares Wine Cellar, Alcantara Café, BBC, Queluz Palace and the Ballroom of the Four Seasons.  

The Gala and Awards dinner for over 1500 people took place at the superb Atlantic Pavilion, a venue that hosts so many big events in the city. A  Moulin Rouge theme was used and superb entertainment was provided to execute a truly fantastic evening.

The final party night was at the old Beato Convent. Beato is a truly unique venue to bring the event to a close.

Lisbon airport authorities are committed to assisting large groups and work closely with TLC to ensure a smooth welcome for the guests. A welcome desk and full meet and greet facilities for the arrival of huge numbers from flights throughout meant a comfortable and smooth transit through the airport and on to the hotels just 20 minutes away.

With the assistance of the Lisbon Traffic police it made moving the many coaches from the hotels to the Congress Centre, The Atlantic Pavilion, Beato and all other venues over the four day period so wonderfully smooth, It showed our clients that Lisbon is serious about business, serious about hospitality and serious about making delegates from around the world feel they are in a city that cares.

Result:
A complex and demanding programme executed in a way to make the client completely delighted with all and every aspect of our city. Our client was fulsome in their praise and thrilled with the outcome. The meeting, they said, raised their event to new standards and that they would return at the first opportunity.

Lisbon is a city of heart and bringing people to enjoy our capital is in the heart of the city.